The Eagles are attempting to recreate their Super Bowl magic from a few seasons ago heading into the 2026 season. The team was an all-time level during their Super Bowl year led by an elite defense and an offense that eventually rounded into elite form. The offense of the team falling off during the 2025 season was easily the biggest reason they did not repeat as the defense was just as good in 2025 as it was in 2024 under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. However, if Philadelphia plans on winning it all again, they will likely need to maintain their level of defensive play. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio remains but the personnel that the Eagles have on the defensive side of things will also loom large heading into the season. Here I will do an assessment of the Eagles’ front seven personnel as the season approaches.
Set to start at the first of the two edge defender spots is former 1st rounder Jalen Carter who is very strong at the position, but who has unfortunately consistently regressed during his time in the NFL thus far. Carter as a rookie graded (5/142) among players at his position in terms of an overall defense grade according to Pro Football Focus, a remarkable rookie season. The following season he graded (20/147) in that regard, then this past season he graded (60/147). A consistent regression shown by Carter, but he is still a very good to a great player who could start to become more consistent as he enters his prime.
Former first rounder Jordan Davis is set to start at nose tackle for the Eagles and is also a very strong player. In all four seasons that Davis has played in the NFL he has graded in the well above average range among players at his position according to Pro Football Focus. However, Davis fails to ever warrant being graded in the elite range, but he is still improving however and could perhaps take that leap next season.
At the second edge defender position Moro Ojomo is set to start for Philadelphia who is also very good. Ojomo in all three seasons he has played in the NFL has consistently graded in the well above average range. However, just like Davis he has failed to yet grade in the elite range although he could take that leap next season. Ojomo is more likely to take that leap because he has only logged one season of starter snaps and he could improve as he gains more experience.
2023 1st rounder Nolan Smith Jr is set to start at the first of the linebacker spots and is a high-quality player for the Eagles up front. Smith Jr struggled as a rookie but played well grading in the above average to well above average range in each of the next two seasons playing the edge defender position primarily, however. Smith Jr is transitioning to now playing linebacker and it will be interesting to see the adjustments he makes as he transitions to starting a new position. Smith Jr has also not logged a season of starter snaps thus far and he could also improve from his very good form already with more experience.
Veteran Zack Baun is set to start at the next linebacker spot for Philadelphia and is one of the premier defensive players in the NFL today. Baun received first team All-Pro honors during the Eagles’ 2024 Super Bowl winning season and Pro Football Focus graded him as the best overall linebacker in the NFL that year, which was also his first season playing starter snaps in the NFL. Although Baun did take a bit of a step back from his historic form during the 2025 season where he did not receive All-Pro honors, he still played very well grading as a top six linebacker in the NFL and making the Pro Bowl.
2025 1st rounder Jihaad Campbell is set to start at the next linebacker spot for the Eagles coming off a very strong rookie season that he is in line to build off of. Campbell was graded (14/94) among players at his position despite being a rookie which is remarkable and rare for a rookie to perform that well. Campbell is in line to become a potential superstar in the NFL going forward for the Eagles.
Rounding out the Eagles’ starting front seven is 2020 3rd rounder Jonathan Greenard who is a very good NFL starter. Greenard has graded in the well above average range among players at his position in every season of his career outside of one injury riddled season and his rookie year. However, Greenard is not a star by any stretch but still a very good player having made the Pro Bowl just once. Greenard was acquired from the Vikings this offseason and perhaps he can take the next step as a player into becoming a great one now playing for the Eagles.
From a depth standpoint in the Eagles’ front seven the team is not overly deep, but they do have some noteworthy names. 2022 2nd round linebacker/edge defender Arnold Ebiketie has played at an above average to a well above average level over the past two seasons and is starting to live up to his high draft potential. 2024 5th round linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr has played at an elite level in very limited NFL action, however. Those two in particular are potential high-end backups who might be strong starting caliber players whom the Eagles currently have listed as reserves in their front seven. Philadelphia has maybe the best front seven in the NFL, all seven starters are Pro Bowl to All-Pro caliber players with regularity, and the Eagles have solid depth as well. A breakdown of the Eagles’ front seven heading into the 2026 season can be found below.
2026 Eagles’ Projected Starting Front Seven
LDE – Jalen Carter – B+ to A-, top 10 overall pick, inconsistent although playing very well, could become truly elite now entering his prime
NT – Jordan Davis – B+, very good but not great so far as former first rounder, potentially still improving
RDE – Mojo Ojomo – B+, very good so far, likely still improving
WLB – Nolan Smith Jr – B to B+, ’23 1st rounder, has been very good, could become great with more experience and sticking to one position
LILB – Zack Baun – A to A+
RILB – Jihaad Campbell – B+ as rookie in 2025, ’25 1st rounder, budding superstar
SLB – Jonathan Greenard – B+
2026 Notable Eagles’ Reserve Front Seven PlayersÂ
LB/ED – Arnold Ebiketie – B, has played at an above average to a well above average level the past two seasons as 2022 2nd rounder
LB – Jeremiah Trotter – elite in very limited NFL snaps
LB/ED – Jalyx Hunt – consistently above average in about one season’s worth of snaps as 2024 3rd rounder
ED – AJ Epenesa – C+, former 2nd rounder, up and down career with Bills but still has shown potential, could now thrive with Eagles
